Pivoting float valve



Jan.z,1968 V 5B-GROSS 3,360,803

PIVOTING FLOAT VALVE Filed April e, 1965 un 11 l 1 YIIIIIIIII lINVENTOR. STANLEY B. GROSS WMMW ATTORNEY United States Patent O3,360,803 PIVOTING FLOAT VALVE Stanley B. Gross, 420 N. 20th St.,Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 Filed Apr. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 445,982 1 Claim.(Cl. 4-57) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A pivoting float v-alve comprisinga resilient sealing member equipped with a pair of spaced, vertical tabsintegrally formed near one ed-ge thereof and a split, adjustableattaching collar carrying a pair of horizontally opposed lugs, the saidlugs being respectively insertable into the said tabs to permit pivotingmotion of the sealing member with respect to the collar.

This invention relates to float valves in general and more particularlyto the type of iioat valve ldesigned for use within the flush tanks ofWater closets.

The tank type water closet has enjoyed enormous popularity and today isin common use in residences vand commercial and industrialestablishments not only in this country but throughout the world. Thistype of water closet depends upon a reservoir of water that is suppliedto and stored in the tank above the bowl for flushing action. A flushpipe connects the bottom of the tank with the top of the bowl throughwhich the stored water must pass during the flushing operation. It isevident that the top of the flush pipe must be sealed when the watercloset is not in operation in order to build up the supply of water inthe tank reservoir. Presently known devices in use for this purposecomprise float type valves designed to seat positively in order to sealthe flush pipe when not in use and then, upon operation, to iloat uponthe falling surface of the stored water in order to retard the resealingaction of the valve until all or most of the water has drained from thetank.

Many types of oat valves have been designed and used with the Idescribedwater closets in an attempt to devise a float type valve that ispositive in operation in all instances. Improper seating of this valveresults in the familiar annoying sounds of trickling Water all to theinconvenience of the residents of the home. It may well be said thatimprovements have been made by other workers in the iield, 4and theinstant invention has been undertaken with the thought in mind ofpresenting a float valve that is absolutely trouble free in operationand therefore represents an improvement over all .presently known floatvalves. Guide ro'ds have been completely eliminated and a pivoting typeof operation has been substituted to remove unwanted play.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel oat valvefor water closet ush tanks incorporating pivoting operation.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a novel floatvalve for Water closet operation designed for ready installation in newas well as existing flush tanks that is completely compatible with allush tank equipment presently in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel float valvefor water closet flush tanks that completely eliminates the need formetallic guide rods and links.

It is .another object of this invention to provide a novel oat valve[for water closet ush tanks that is simple in construction, inexpensivein manufacture and absolutely trouble free upon operation.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had byreferring to the following description and claims of a preferredembodiment thereof, taken in ice conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the float valve collar.

FIG. 2 is :a top perspective view of the float valve sealing member.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken through t-he tank of .a flushtank type water closet showing the float valve in closed positionretaining the water in the tank reservoir.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 showing the oat valve in open position.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing oat valve attached to overoW tube.

FIG. 6 is an explo-ded view of a modified float valve collar.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for thesake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to theparticular structure of my invention selected for illustration in thedrawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of theinvention.

The device has been designed to be as simple as possible to insuretrouble-free operation and long life an'cl consists principally of onlytwo component parts. A collar section generally designated as A connectsthe oat valve to the existing overflow tube 10 in place in the tank 11of a Water closet. T-he sealing member, generally designated as B,pivotally joins collar section A to form a complete, relatively simplyconstructed, float valve assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 1, I show in detail the collar section Acomprising a pair of split overow tube clamps 12, 13 each havingcentrally positioned, semi-circular shaped, overow tube engaging bends14, 15 terminating outwardly in corresponding flat mating endslrespectively designated 16, 17 an-d 18, 19. Corresponding holes 20, 21and 22, 23 pierce respective mating ends 16, 17, 18, 19 to receiveattaching bolts 24. Nuts 25 secure split clamps 12, 13 to overow tube 10by tightening upon bolts 24 in the usual way. I prefer to construct all.portions of collar section A of brass to yassure long life in view ofthe complete immersion in the water 26 in tank 11. Brass is alsodesirable from a standpoint of trouble-free operation in View of itsstrength and rigidity. It should be noted however, that while brass isdeemed best for the use at present, it is entirely possible that certainplastic compounds could be use'd that lpossess the required strength,rigidity and corrosion resistance for the intended service. Thesubstitution of such compounds is deemed to fall within the scope ofthis invention. Brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the forwardsurface 26 of front collar clamp 13, I provide a horizontal rod 27 whichterminates outwardly in horizontally projecting lugs 28, 29.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, the sealing member B cornprises a generallydiscoid sealing .portion 30 which is provided with ari integral,depending, hollow float 31. The sealing portion 30 must be of diametersucient to iit over and seal mouth 32 of the tank flush pipe 33 and ispreferably fabricated o-f rubber having adequate body to resistdeformation when in operation. Ribs 34, 35 are integrally formed withand reinforce the top 47, of the sealing portion 30 and extendrearwardly from lift tab 36 terminating in a pair of spaced, upwardlyextending rear guide tabs 37, 38. Holes 39, 40, yare respectivelyprovided in the tabs 38, 37 an'd loosely connect the tabs to the rightand left lugs 28, 29 of the rod 27, thereby permitting pivotal motion ofthe sealing member B about the rod 27 of the split collar A. Enoughfreedom is provided in the holes 39, 40 for lugs 28, 29 to assurepositive seating of the sealing portion 30 upon the ush pipe mouth 32without frictional interference from the pivotal connection.

Referring now to FIG. 6, I show a modified collar A wherein the splitclamp sections 12, 13 engage the overflow tube 10 in the usual manner byturning the bolts 24 J in threaded openings 54, 55 that are provided inthe-rear section 12. The collar section 13 forwardly carries ahorizontal -bar 51 that may be integrally formed with the dependingextension 50 to support the bar 51-below the level .of the bolts 24. Thebar 51 terminates outwardly in a pair of expanded lugs 52, 53 to looselyengage the sealing member holes 39, 40 while at the same time providingYa raised construction `to prevent the tabs 37, 38 from accidentlydisengaging.

In order to use my invention, the split collar A may be looselyassembled -by connecting the clamps 12, 13 using two bolts 24 and nuts25 inserted through the respective corresponding holes 20, 21 .and 22,23. The collar is then applied over the top end 41 of the overow tube 10and is positioned at its base 42 with the bent portions 14, 15 incontact with the overflow tube. The `collar is then fastcned in place bytightening nuts 25 with the horizontal rod 27 positioned to face theflush pipe 33. Once the collar A has been secured, tabs 37, 38 ofsealing member B are spread as required to insert lugs 28, 29respectively through vholes .40, 39. The natural resiliency of thematerial returns the tabs -to their unstretched position `once the lugsare inserted and care shoul'd be exercised to assure that the oat 31faces downwardly.

As seen in FIG. 3, a lift Wire 43 has one end aixed to the end of theoperating rod 44 in the usual manner and has its second end fastened tothe lift tab 36 leaving a little slack when the rod 44 rests in itslowermost position. In this position, with the lugs 28, 29 insertedthrough the holes 39, 40, the sealing portion 30 naturally rests uponan'd seals the mouth 32 of the ush pipe 33. Upon operation of the handle45, the operating rod 44 pivots about the pin 48 to rise and thus drawthe sealing portion 30 off its seat through the fo-rce transmitted bythe lift wire 43. Water 26 is thus permitted to enter the iiush pipe 33while the liioat 31 operates to keep sealing member B floating in theopen yposition by the buoyant force of the surrounding water. As thewater discharges and the level drops near the top ofthe flush pipe, thebuoyant force of the oat will terminate and sealing portion 30 willautomatically and positively seat upon mouth 32 of ush pipe 33, thereby,assuring trouble-free, leak-resistant operation.

Although I have `described my invention with a certain 'clegree ofparticularly, it is understood that the present disclosure has been madeonly by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a oat valve for use in a water closet flush tank equipped with anoverflow tube anda liush pipe, the combination of a split collar sectionremovably connected to the overflow tube,

sai'd collar comprising a rear member and a forward member adjustablyjoined therewith, said members provided with opposed arcuately formed,centrally positioned bends,

said bends terminating horizontally outwardly in flat mating ends,

said bends contacting and squeezing the said overow tube therebetween,

and the said mating ends each being respectively drilled to form pairsof opposed openings.

a pair of fastening bolts .acting through the said opposed openings anddrawing the said rear `and forward members together about the overflowtube,

said forward member forwardly carrying a pair of horizontally opposedlugs, said lugs terminating outwardly in expanded ends, said ends havinggreater diameter than the diameter of the said lugs; and

a resilient sealing member seating upon the inlet of the `said ush pipe,

said sealing member terminating downwardly in a concentric, integrallyformed, hollow float,

said float being sized to enter the inlet of the said flush pipe,

and said float operatively buoyanting the sealing member upon thesurface of the ush tank retained wate-r,

said sealing member being provided with a top connected, forwardlymounting lifting tab, `and said sealing member terminating rearwardly ina pair of spacer, upwardly extending, guide tabs,

said tabs each being formed with a horizontal opening,

said opening having diameter to freely receive one of the said lugs,

said sealing member pivotally moving about the said collar section and apair of reinforcing ribs aixed to the top of the said sealing member,said ribs respectively extending from the said lift tab to one of thesaid guide tabs, the said reinforcing ribs `forming a substantiallyV-shaped reinforcing pattern, and said ribs serving to maintain thenormal configuration of the resilient sealing member during lall periodsof operation,

whereby the retained Water in the said flush tank may exit through thesaid flush pipe upon exertion of an upward force on the said lift tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,748 9/1933 Colvin 4-572,763,872 9/1956 Nelson 4-57 2,779,028 l/l957 Branch 4-57 2,781,5202/1957 Micek 4-57 3,l67,787 2/1965 Connealy 4--57 SAMUEL ROTHBERG,Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

